Sophia Perez

My Vision as a Teacher

As an educator, I incorporate inquiry and exploration in the outdoors as much as possible. I've come to realize that there is a growing need for more environmentally-conscious conversations like these in our everyday. Less humans are spending time outside in nature. This decreases opportunities to create positive memorable experiences, grow in nature-confidence, & form feelings of respect and stewardship. It's as if the state of the earth depends on it.. because it does!

I aim to break barriers to environmental learning and outdoor spaces by bringing it to the students of my school district. 

Educational presentations, experiences, and activities that I create will allow students to enhance Next Generation Science Standard understanding. I hope to encourage students to form their own opinions based on their data intake and feel empowered to use their unique ideas to contribute to environmental sustainability in the community.

My Vision as a Scientist

My experiences as a care specialist and my commitment to supporting “underdogs” led me to focus on reptiles and amphibians for my graduate work. I wanted to understand not only these animals themselves, but also why people so often overlook their sentience and individuality—qualities I see clearly. Part of the reason is that we’re still only scratching the surface of what we know about them. With new species still being discovered, there is an abundance left to learn, share, and uncover.

I aim to pursue my research questions while also fostering empathy and understanding for these animals by communicating new findings to broader audiences. My unique identities—as a neurodivergent Latina with a social science background—equip me with fresh perspectives that can help diversify the field of herpetology.

Currently, I am especially drawn to studying the natural history and behavior of San Diego County’s native species. By focusing on the reptiles and amphibians that live in our communities’ backyards, I hope to make research personally relevant, spark curiosity, and encourage public engagement through outreach and citizen science.